GALLOPING OVER THEM

Colts star Taylor rushes for 94 yards to help offset Herbert's 420 passing yards and defeat Chargers

- SAM FARMER

THE COLTS' Zaire Franklin breaks up a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey. L.A. clawed its way back into the game after a sleepy first half.

Photographs by ERIC THAYER Los Angeles Times

The Chargers had the look. All-gold uniforms. Retro logos. Powder-blue end zones with script from the nostalgic days of Dan Fouts and Don Coryell.

But their defense?

As dead as disco when it counted most.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, the NFL's leading rusher, trampled the Chargers on Sunday with touchdowns of 23, eight and 19 yards in a 38-24 victory at SoFi Stadium.

It was just another Sunday for Taylor, who came into Week 7 leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, and averaged 5.9 yards per carry against a Chargers defense that had been respectable to this point. That defense allowed an average of 20.8 points in the six previous games.

That helped open the passing lanes for Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who threw a pair of touchdowns and again made an early-season case for comeback player of the year after his career had seemingly flamed out with the New York Giants.